The U.S. Supreme Court issues two related rulings that expand presidential authority over personnel at independent federal agencies. In a 6–3 decision, the court allows President Donald Trump to remove members of the Federal Trade Commission, rejecting a nearly century-old precedent that had permitted Congress to insulate certain executive branch officials with limits on when they can be dismissed. The rulings address the case of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, a Democratic appointee, and the court permits her removal despite a statute that provides that commissioners may be taken out only for specified reasons. The decision also concerns the Federal Reserve. While the court expands presidential firing power, it explicitly blocks an immediate effort to dismiss a Federal Reserve governor “for now,” and it reaffirms the Federal Reserve’s structural independence. Overall, the justices state that presidential control over independent-agency leaders is broader than previously recognized, but they do not fully overturn all protections associated with the Fed’s governance in the same way, at least not in the current posture of the case.
Supreme Court expands presidential power to fire officials at independent agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court issues two related rulings that expand presidential authority over personnel at independent federal agencies. In a 6–3 decision, the court allows President Donald Trump to remov...
- The Supreme Court rules in a 6–3 decision that expands President Trump’s power to fire officials at independent federal agencies.
- The court permits removal of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, despite statutory limits on commissioners’ dismissal.
- The ruling overturns a nearly century-old precedent that had allowed Congress to provide firing protections for certain independent agency officials.
- The Supreme Court reaffirms the Federal Reserve’s independence in its related ruling.
- The court blocks, at least for now, dismissal of a Federal Reserve governor in the pending dispute.
In twin rulings, the justices said President Trump could fire independent regulators for any reason but explicitly affirmed the Fed’s independence and said its leaders could not be fired at will.
1 hour agoA divided US Supreme Court expanded the president’s power to fire top government officials. The ruling lets President Donald Trump fire Democratic Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Kelly Slaughter despite a law that says commissioners can be removed only for specified reasons. Mike McKee reports on "Bloomberg Open Interest." (Source: Bloomberg)
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